Young mum Dawn Graves, killed after being hit by lorry in Breightmet, may have died saving her toddler

A young mum killed under the wheels of a lorry might have died saving her toddler’s life. Dawn Graves, 25, was crushed as she pushed her one-year-old son across the road in his buggy. It is believed Ms Graves was trying to hurl the pushchair out of the way when she was hit.

A young mum killed under the wheels of a lorry might have died saving her toddler’s life.

Dawn Graves, 25, was crushed as she pushed her one-year-old son across the road in his buggy.

It is believed Ms Graves was trying to hurl the pushchair out of the way when she was hit. Her son, Aidan, suffered minor head injuries after the buggy was thrown from the path of the wagon.

Ms Graves had visited a corner shop for a bottle of milk and sweets when the tragedy occurred near her home in Bury Road, Breightmet, Bolton. She had been crossing a side-street as the slow-moving lorry turned left into the road.

Shop staff desperately tried to save her, but she had been severely injured and died at the scene.

Aiden was taken to hospital by paramedics as a precaution. His injuries were not believed to be life-threatening.

It is understood his dad, Barry Guest, was unaware what had happened when he returned home two-and-a-half hours later. Mr Guest, 35, was met by neighbours before running to the scene, where he was comforted by police. It is thought he and Ms Graves were about to get married.

The aftermath of the horror crash was witnessed by the owner and staff of BJ's off licence which is just yards away. They told how little Aidan came out of the pram in the collision.

He was found crawling on the road outside.

Shop assistant Dean Morton, 24, from Bolton said: "A woman came into the shop and she was screaming. We could not understand what she was screaming about. She just said a woman.

"I went outside and the woman was laid on the floor. The pram was overturned. My first reaction was to call 999.

"As I was on the phone to the police the baby crawled out of the pram crying. He was crawling on the road.

"A customer took the baby back into the shop until the police and ambulance came.

"I flagged an ambulance down as it went past and it turned around in the road. "It was there in about five seconds. It was just so tragic.

"The wagon was coming from Bolton towards Bury and it turned left onto the road as Dawn was crossing. The driving was going the correct way because it is a one way street."

Dean Morton witnessed the scene shortly after the incident - see him in the video below ...

</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The wagon involved is believed to be a waste recycling truck.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Store owner Bahrat Patel, 59, added: "The first thing that I noticed was a woman lying down injured. The boy had come out of the pram. We think he had crawled out of the pram onto the road and started to cry. We brought the baby quickly into the shop and then he went very quiet. The police and paramedics were then inside."</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Mr Patel and residents described the road as dangerous.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Mr Patel added: "We do have concerns about the road and nobody is happy with the layout."</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Resident Colin Flanagan, 53, of nearby Crompton Avenue, said: "I have seen cars going the wrong way down the road and it is an accident waiting to happen. It is a one way road and always has been but they have narrowed it as well. It has been dangerous for a while. Cars swing in left and if there is someone in the road they would have no chance. It is a blind corner and the council needs to be aware of it."</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Jordan Kay-Howorth, 19, saw the accident from outside the barbershop where he works opposite the scene.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Jordan, of nearby Deepdale Road, said: "The truck was turning the corner by the shop and the lady must have got distracted. She just started walking across, pushing the buggy. The truck must have only been going about 5mph because it happened right at the junction.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">"The child in the buggy got hit first and the lady started screaming. Then she got hit by the truck and the screaming stopped. It was awful. I don’t think the driver even saw her.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">"When he stopped people ran from the shop and everyone was around her trying to help until the ambulance came. This is so sad."</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Police and ambulance crews confirmed they had been alerted to the tragedy at 12.25pm yesterday.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The crushed buggy, bottle of milk and a single flip-flop remained at the scene as officers put up a cordon. The truck, belonging to a waste recycling firm and with a grey container on the back, was examined before being removed.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The truck driver has not been arrested.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Staff at BJ’s store, where Ms Graves had been shopping, declined to comment.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Ms Graves is believed to have been a mum of two, with an older daughter who attends a nearby primary school.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <strong>Witnesses are asked to call police on 0161 856 4742.</strong> </p>